All angles to be covered by IOSH 2019

From using artificial intelligence to save lives and guidance on implementing wellbeing strategies to the importance of language and managing contractor safety across boundaries, IOSH’s annual international conference has all angles covered.

The conference is returning to the ICC in Birmingham for the third year running and the programme has been designed to ensure it is relevant to health and safety professionals at all stages of their career.

Each day also has a clear focus, to help delegates decide between investing in a one-day or two-day pass.

The first day, Monday 16 September, will seek to enhance professionals’ understanding of key topic areas of safety, health and wellbeing, providing them with practical advice on managing the risks.

The second day, Tuesday 17 September, will be all about the latest thinking and insight into leadership, strategy and innovation to help delegates shape a world-beating health and safety culture which gives their business a competitive edge.

Martin Temple, chair of the UK’s Health and Safety Executive, will deliver the opening address. He will explore how the health and safety profession can work with the regulator and prepare for future challenges, including how it can become more influential in the business world.

He said: “Business is facing one of its most challenging decades ever. It is going to be very important, therefore, that the health and safety profession communicates with business in a way they understand, and they see us helping them achieve their goals in a safe and healthy way.

“There is talk about the burden of health and safety, but this often comes from companies whose responsibility is very straightforward. We should encourage businesses to see that this responsibility is easy to include in day-to-day work.”

The conference will focus on seven key topics: business and leadership skills; from compliance to competitive advantage; leading sustainability and human capital; collaborating with others; what we can learn from OSH research; healthier workplaces; and future risks, challenges and opportunities.

Keynote speakers for the conference will be journalist and author Frank Gardner and health and wellbeing expert Dr John Briffa. Frank will recount his own story of survival, having been shot six times by terrorists while reporting in Saudi Arabia in 2004, and how he learned from that experience in terms of decision-making, risk-taking and his approach to adventure. Dr Briffa will talk delegates through building a wellbeing programme which can be adapted to their own business to boost their bottom line.

The event will again be chaired by journalist and broadcaster Cathy Newman and will also feature a variety of breakfast and lunchtime sessions, networking opportunities and a careers zone, giving delegates the chance to enhance their job prospects.